Midnight Sun @ #Iceland

Midnight Sun: A natural phenomenon occurring in the summer months north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle where the sun never fully sets and remains visible 24 hours a day. This short time lapse film was shot during the Icelandic Midnight Sun in June of 2011. For 17 days I travelled solo around the entire island shooting almost 24 hours, sleeping in the car, and eating whenever I had the time. During my days shooting this film I shot 38,000 images, travelled some 2900 miles, and saw some of the most amazing, beautiful, and indescribable landscapes on the planet. Iceland is absolutely one of the most beautiful and unusual places you could ever imagine. Especially during the Midnight Sun when the quality of light hitting the landscape is very unusual, and very spectacular. Iceland is a landscape photographers paradise and playground, and should be number 1 on every photographers must visit list. Iceland during the Midnight Sun is in sort of a permanent state of sunset. The sun never full sets and travels horizontally across the horizon throughout the night, as can be seen in the opening shot and at the :51 second mark in the video. During the Arctic summer, sunset was at midnight and sunrise was at 3am. The Arctic summer sun provided 24 hours a day of light, with as much as 6 hours daily of "Golden light". Once the sun had set it wouldn't even get dark enough for the stars to come out, and they don't start to reappear until August.  "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

Arctic Sea Ice, originally uploaded by NASA Goddard Photo and Video.

Arctic Sea Ice

On July 12, 2011, crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy retrieved a canister dropped by parachute from a C-130, which brought supplies for some mid-mission fixes.

The ICESCAPE mission, or "Impacts of Climate on Ecosystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment," is NASA's two-year shipborne investigation to study how changing conditions in the Arctic affect the ocean's chemistry and ecosystems. The bulk of the research takes place in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas in summer 2010 and 2011.

Credit: NASA/Kathryn Hansen

For updates on the five-week ICESCAPE voyage, visit the mission blog at: go.usa.gov/WwU

NASA image use policy.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

Iceland a time lapse ...

Iceland from Darius Valatkevicius on Vimeo.

Time lapse movie from magnificent country Iceland. It's truly A Photographer's Paradise. During two weeks trekking trip we visited Landmannalaugar, Myvatn Krafla, Jokulsargljufur, Snaefelness, Reykjavik.

Music: Ludovico Einaudi "Nefeli"
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

See the Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis

Northern Lights

The sight of the lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky will be etched in the memory of all those who are lucky enough to witness it.
The phenomenon of the Northern Lights has fascinated the Sámi people for centuries and there are more than 20 folk tales that attempt to explain their existence. In many parts of Lapland the Northern lights are known as the Firefox. Legend has it that the tail of a running fox brushing against the powder snow causes the sparks in the sky. It is also said that the Arctic Sea contains so many fish that the sun's light is reflected off their scales and creates the patterns in the sky.
Today's science means that we now know that the Aurora Borealis displays we see are caused by electrically charged particles in space hitting the earth's atmosphere. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles they emit excess energy as light.
Although the Aurora Borealis can be seen from northerly parts of the United Kingdom the occurrences are rare and the intensity of the displays tend to be low. The further north you travel the better your chances of viewing the lights so all the destinations in this brochure provide great opportunities to see the Northern lights.
The optimum time to see the Northern lights is between 9pm and 1am in the morning. Be careful not to go to bed too soon or you may miss out. The intensity of the displays can vary and may start with a small stationary glow or arch in the night sky before building into a spectacular show.
The Aurora Borealis is a purely natural phenomenon and therefore cannot be guaranteed whichever destination you choose. However, the further north you travel and the further away from man-made light you are, the better your chance to see the Northern lights. Many of our destinations offer night time and overnight safaris that will give you the perfect opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis as we take you deep into the darkness (and our guides know all the best view points!).
Lying on a reindeer skin in deep snow, watching the sky shimmer and drinking hot berry juice is an excellent way to spend part of your holiday! Whatever you believe about the Aurora Borealis there is no more spectacular experience on Earth than sitting in a winter wonderland watching the lights dancing across the sky. It is truly magical! Choose from our Lapland trips below and see the Northern lights with Activities Abroad.

via activitiesabroad.com

dedicated to my friend @Vlavo

Alaska ...ice and forests

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler






travel

Iceland, all year round ...Ισλανδία η χώρα των Βίκινγκς

Iceland from Eva Sturm on Vimeo.

Iceland - Discoveries the Entire Year
Iceland is not only closer than you think, but far different than you ever imagined. Where else can you witness such marvels of Mother Nature as a tremendous icecap and several glaciers, spouting geysers and steaming solfataras, volcanoes (hopefully dormant), raging rivers and magnificent waterfalls, a multitude of birds, cavorting whales just offshore and many other surprises. Summers are surprisingly warm and winters not as cold as you might expect. Regardless of when you visit, be assured that the warmth shown by Icelanders, their desire to share their culture and the efforts made to make your stay as pleasant as possible will, like the spectacular landscape, never be forgotten. Looking for a holiday or vacation in Europe? - Visit Iceland - Your official Iceland travel guide to Iceland vacation.

external links:
Gateway to Iceland
Government Offices of Iceland
Wikimedia Atlas of Iceland
Iceland travel guide from Wikitravel
Wikia has a wiki on this subject at World Wikia: Iceland
Iceland at the Open Directory Project
New Iceland in Manitoba, Canada

====================================================================================
Οι Ισλανδοί, στην πλειοψηφία τους, είναι άμεσοι απόγονοι των Νορβηγών Βίκινγκς, οι οποίοι εγκαταστάθηκαν στη χώρα πριν από 11 αιώνες. Οι πρώτοι «εισβολείς» παρέμειναν απομονωμένοι, παρά την άμεση εξάρτησή τους, αρχικά, από τους Νορβηγούς και, αργότερα, από τους Δανούς. Η απομόνωση είχε ως αποτέλεσμα να διατηρηθούν ανέπαφα όλα τα ήθη και έθιμα, οι δοξασίες και η γλώσσα των αρχαίων Βίκινγκς. Επίσης, αξιοσημείωτο είναι το γεγονός ότι πρόκειται για τη μοναδική χώρα στην Ευρώπη στην οποία οι κάτοικοι δεν έχουν επώνυμα. Οι Ισλανδοί απλώς προσθέτουν στο όνομα τους εκείνο του πατέρα τους μαζί με το επίθεμα -son, αν είναι άντρες ή -dottir, αν είναι γυναίκες. Αυτά αντίστοιχα σημαίνουν «γιος του...» και «κόρη της...».

χρησιμοι συνδεσμοι:
Επίσημη «είσοδος» στην Ισλανδία
Κυβερνητική ιστοσελίδα
Εμπορικό Επιμελητήριο της Ισλανδίας
Íslenska, Γερμανικό περιοδικό για την Ισλανδία
Πανεπιστήμιο της Ισλανδίας: Δωρεάν on-line μαθήματα Ισλανδικής γλώσσας και πολιτισμού
Στοιχεία για τη γεωγραφία της Ισλανδίας
Στοιχεία για την ιστορία της Ισλανδίας
Διάφορα στατιστικά και άλλα στοιχεία για την Ισλανδία
Στοιχεία από το BBC

Σελίδες στα ελληνικά
Σχέσεις Ελλάδας-Ισλανδίας από το ελληνικό Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών
Σπουδές στην Ισλανδία, ένα σάιτ της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης.
Αφιέρωμα της Οικολογικής Επιθεώρησης
αφιέρωμα του περιοδικού Focus
Παγκόσμια και Ελληνική Γεωγραφία > Ισλανδία
Nordic Experts > Ισλανδία

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

In search of the Northern Lights ....σε αναζήτηση του Βορείου Σέλαος

Μία προταση εκδρομής για "ψαγμένους" ταξιδευτές!!

στον πιο κάτω σύνδεσμο!
==========================================================================
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are a spectacular natural phenomenon,

caused by the interaction of solar winds with the earth's magnetic field.

In search of the Northern Lights -Telegraph Travel Shop

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

See the Northern Lights! ...μία κρουαζίερα, στην ζώνη του λυκόφωτος

μία απίθανη κρουαζίερα στην Αρκτική...

και σε φανταστική τιμή.

Experience a spectacular Norwegian coastal voyage aboard Hurtigruten. Known internationally as “The World’s Most Beautiful Voyage”, this enchanting vacation showcases Norway’s dazzling scenery of fjords, snow-capped mountains, bustling villages and picturesque towns.
Winter may be the most special time to experience the Norwegian Coastal voyage - a hidden gem. A truly spectacular time to see Norway’s northern reaches with majestic scenery, the Polar Light and a surreal experience not found anywhere else.
Uniques to these sailings are the exciting winter excursions including dog sledding in Tromso, the Lofotr Viking Feast, and snowmobiling over the frozen fjords of Lapland. And what winterland would be complete without an encounter with the awe-inspiring Northern Lights?

Aurora borealis is a truly rare phenomenon occurring only in the winter. 2 for 1 special offer: book selected 12, 7 and 6-day Norwegian Coastal voyages departing in October, November and December 2008 and your companion travels free. This offer is unfortunately not valid on suites, however.


"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler